WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/01/99

[7Snow]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#98-]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

An overnight winter storm is making for treacherous driving this morning.
And while many schoolchildren have the day off, there are many people who still need to get to work.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Steve/Microwave]

Steve Pardon joins us now with an update on the road conditions. Steve?
[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@spa1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)

[Double Boxes=Steve and Melanie/Microwave]

[7E-RoanokeCo-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-76;]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

A Roanoke County family's attempt to save their burning home with a garden hose was futile. After yesterday's fire, the house is almost a total loss. David Johnson has their story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In his 28]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :01]
[SUPER=01-Fred Murphy/Fire Victim; :07]
[SUPER=01-Capt. Darryl Sexton/Roanoke Co. Fire Dept.; :28]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=Djo, N7, Roanoke County.]
(( In his 28-years of living in this house, Fred Murphy never woke up to a day like this one.
[SOT=17:59:46]
[IN Q=I WAS TAKING]
((FRED MURPHY/HOMEOWNER; I WAS TAKING A BATH, GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL. MY SON, THEY WERE IN THE KITCHEN TALKING. THEN THEY WERE HOLLERING FOR ME. THE OIL HEATER HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BLAZED RIGHT UP.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=BLAZED RIGHT UP.]
Murphy got his wife, son and greatgrandson out unscathed. They tried saving the house before help arrived, but to no avail.
[SOT=18:05:08]
[IN Q=THEY WERE]
((CAPT. DARRYL SEXTON/ROANOKE CO. FIRE DEPT.; THEY WERE TRYING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE WHEN I ARRIVED. I TOLD THEM TO BACK AWAY BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS JUST TOO HEAVY.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=JUST TOO HEAVY.]
The family had little time to collect personal items. Efforts to retrieve them seemed futile. [NAT-SOUND/18:19:24] ((WHY CAN'T I LOOK FOR MY WALLET. Because it's not safe yet.)) [RUNS04] [NAT-SOUND/17:55:55] ((Sound of chainsaw cutting through the roof.)) [RUNS03] Murphy and some of his neighbors watched as the firefighters fought to save his home. The blaze was extinguished almost immediately, but chainsaws and fans had to be used to clear the smoke. [NAT-SOUND/17:59:04] ((fans running in front of door.)) [RUNS02] The house was destroyed. The homeowner says it's too early to say where they will go from here.
[SOT=18:01:07]
[IN Q=I WOULDN'T]
((I WOULDN'T KNOW RIGHT NOW. TOO EARLY TO SAY.)) [RUNS04]
[OUT Q=TO SAY.]
[STAND-UP/] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; INVESTIGATORS SAY DAMAGE ESTIMATES RANGE AROUND 95-THOUSAND DOLLARS OR A TOTAL LOSS, BUT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SAY THEY WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE FAMILY HAS A PLACE TO STAY, CLOTHING, FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES UNTIL THE MURPHY'S CAN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, ROANOKE COUNTY.))

[RUNS14]))[7S-Godwin]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-78; 52:34]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A former Virginia governor has died.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Mills Godwin died Saturday night of pneumonia.
He served 2 four-year terms as governor--one as a Democrat in 1966 and the other as a Republican in 19-74.
Governor Jim Gilmore said Godwin was a "truly historic and transitional figure in state government".
Gilmore has ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff for the next 30 days.
Godwin was 84 years old.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a look now at your Monday forecast..
Look for sleet and snow to continue throughout the morning, before turning over to freezing rain this afternoon. The Greenbrier valley could see up to five inches of snow, before it turns to sleet and freezing rain.
Highs will be in the low-30s.
The precipitation should change over to all rain by tonight, with temperatures staying in the lower-30s.
The extended forecast...

[CK/WX PRO=]
MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sleet & Snow/Then Freezing Rain/30-34/Rain Likely/Turning Mostly Cloudy/30-34;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[7BIRTHDAYS!] 2/2/99
Tuesday:

[SUPER=130-14/Nikki Terry/Glenvar]

[SUPER=130-3/Kelsey Underwood/Salem]

[SUPER=130-/Sharon Epperly/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-5/Kelsey Woodwine/Christiansburg]

[SUPER=130-24/Joseph Karnes/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-/Helene Hatcher/Roanoke]

[SUPER=130-/Teresa Winstead/Blairs]

[SUPER=130-6/Michael Smith/Penhook]

[SUPER=130-5/Harrison Richards/Roanoke]

No Pictures:

[SUPER=131-55/Ralph Prescott/Blacksburg]

Twins:
[SUPER=131-29/Kamara Morrison/Lynchburg]
[SUPER=131-29/Tamara Valentine/Lynchburg]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[45Snow]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#98-]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

Several area schools are closed this morning, as the area remains under a winter storm warning.
But commuters are starting to hit the roads, in an effort to make it to work.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Steve/Microwave]

Steve Pardon joins us now with an update on the road conditions. Steve?
[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@spa1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)

[Double Boxes=Steve and Melanie/Microwave]

[45E-Crouch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-83; 34:24]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A convicted child molestor has returned to Southwest Virginia in police custody.
Now he faces more criminal charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

46-year old Roger Lee Crouch fled the area with his wife and 20-month old son Travis in December.
He was due to be sentenced on child molestation charges.
His case was featured on the T-V show, "America's Most Wanted."
Shortly afterward, authorities arrested the pair in Texas.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11.22.26 - 11.23.36]
[IN Q=There was a whole]
((INV. MICHAEL MEHAFFERY/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THIS CASE, NOT THAT IT HADN'T GONE INTO ANY OTHER CASES BUT TO MY KNOWEDGE I WORKED ON THIS CASE AND EVERYBODY WORKED SO HARD.))
[SUPER=01-Inv. Michael Mehaffey/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Office;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=worked so hard.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

The couple is behind bars in Bedford and will appear in court later today.
Meanwhile, officials with the Texas Department of Social Services are trying to find a new home for their son Travis.
(------------)

[45Heart-Score]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-77;]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The American Heart Association has begun airing its annual week-long program about heart disease-- one of the nation's leading causes of death.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

It's called "Heart Score".
Each segment will be dedicated to new developments in the fight to stop the diease.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=16:16:04]
[IN Q=EVERYDAY THERE WILL]
((ELIZABETH VAIL/AREA DIRECTOR; EVERYDAY THERE WILL BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WE WON'T JUST BE TALKING ABOUT DIET AND EXERCISE, BUT SOME NEW THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AS FAR AS RESEARCH IS CONCERNED.))
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Vail/Area Director;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=IS CONCERNED.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The topics include new types of therapy and surgery, and an important new test.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=16:15:22]
[IN Q=WE'VE NEVER REALLY]
((ELIZABETH VAIL/AREA DIRECTOR; WE'VE NEVER REALLY HAD A TEST UNTIL THIS YEAR THAT SOMEONE COULD TAKE TO DISCOVER IF THEY'RE A CANDIDATE FOR HEART DISEASE. THERE'S A NEW TEST THAT'S OUT THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE.))
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=ABLE TO TAKE.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The series airs on CBS "This Morning" each day this week between seven and nine A-M.

[45E-Super-Party]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-82]
[GRAPHIC=Super Bowl 33]

It's a repeat victory for the Broncos at the Super Bowl.
Football fans throughout the commonwealth caught the big game at the homes of friends, at sports bars and at church.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

Local football fans watched the game at home, at sports bars and at church. The First Wesleyan Church on Peters Creek Road is one of several that gave young people a place to watch the game. Inside this youth center, there are several televisions to catch all the action. Along with the game, there was also a little spiritual guidance.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=18:28:46]
[IN Q=AT THE HALFTIME]
((BO KEEVER/YOUTH MINISTER; AT THE HALFTIME, THERE'S A SPECIAL MINISTRY CALLED SPORTS OUTREACH. THEY PRODUCE CHRISTIAN VIDEOS WITH FAMOUS ATHLETES. NAMES EVERYONE WOULD RECOGNIZE. THESE FELLOWS BASICALLY GIVE THEIR TESTIMONY AND SHARE THE GOSPEL.))
[SUPER=01-Bo Keever/Youth Minister;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=SHARE THE GOSPEL.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
It was First Wesleyan's third Super Bowl party.
As many as 200 people have attended in the past.
(------------)

[45WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Time now to check the Monday forecast--
Sleet and snow is changing over to freezing rain this morning, with daytime highs only in the lower 30s.
All rain is likely this evening, before tapering off after midnight.
Temperatures tonight holding steading or rising a bit in the mid 30s.
The extended outlook improves greatly by tomorrow, with partly cloudy skies and highs this week in the 40s and 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sleet & Snow/Then Freezing Rain/30-34/Rain Likely/Turning Mostly Cloudy/30-34;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]
[cutopen]
[SUPER=19-Melanie/Moon;]

[8Snow]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#98-]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

The return of winter weather is prompting many area school systems to alter their schedules this morning.
Meanwhile, most of us are having to go into work, as scheduled this morning.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Steve/Microwave]

Steve Pardon has been surveying the travel conditions for us this morning.
How are the roads now Steve?
[Live=Steve Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@spa1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)

[Double Boxes=Steve and Melanie/Microwave]

[8E-RoanokeCo-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-76;]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Nearly a hundred- thousand dollars worth of damages have forced a Roanoke County family from their home.
Four people were able to escape the burning building yesterday. David Johnson has their story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In his 28]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :01]
[SUPER=01-Fred Murphy/Fire Victim; :07]
[SUPER=01-Capt. Darryl Sexton/Roanoke Co. Fire Dept.; :28]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=Djo, N7, Roanoke County.]
(( In his 28-years of living in this house, Fred Murphy never woke up to a day like this one.
[SOT=17:59:46]
[IN Q=I WAS TAKING]
((FRED MURPHY/HOMEOWNER; I WAS TAKING A BATH, GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL. MY SON, THEY WERE IN THE KITCHEN TALKING. THEN THEY WERE HOLLERING FOR ME. THE OIL HEATER HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND BLAZED RIGHT UP.)) [RUNS11]
[OUT Q=BLAZED RIGHT UP.]
Murphy got his wife, son and greatgrandson out unscathed. They tried saving the house before help arrived, but to no avail.
[SOT=18:05:08]
[IN Q=THEY WERE]
((CAPT. DARRYL SEXTON/ROANOKE CO. FIRE DEPT.; THEY WERE TRYING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE WHEN I ARRIVED. I TOLD THEM TO BACK AWAY BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS JUST TOO HEAVY.)) [RUNS10]
[OUT Q=JUST TOO HEAVY.]
The family had little time to collect personal items. Efforts to retrieve them seemed futile. [NAT-SOUND/18:19:24] ((WHY CAN'T I LOOK FOR MY WALLET. Because it's not safe yet.)) [RUNS04] [NAT-SOUND/17:55:55] ((Sound of chainsaw cutting through the roof.)) [RUNS03] Murphy and some of his neighbors watched as the firefighters fought to save his home. The blaze was extinguished almost immediately, but chainsaws and fans had to be used to clear the smoke. [NAT-SOUND/17:59:04] ((fans running in front of door.)) [RUNS02] The house was destroyed. The homeowner says it's too early to say where they will go from here.
[SOT=18:01:07]
[IN Q=I WOULDN'T]
((I WOULDN'T KNOW RIGHT NOW. TOO EARLY TO SAY.)) [RUNS04]
[OUT Q=TO SAY.]
[STAND-UP/] ((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; INVESTIGATORS SAY DAMAGE ESTIMATES RANGE AROUND 95-THOUSAND DOLLARS OR A TOTAL LOSS, BUT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SAY THEY WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE FAMILY HAS A PLACE TO STAY, CLOTHING, FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES UNTIL THE MURPHY'S CAN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS 7, ROANOKE COUNTY.))

[RUNS14]))[8E-Crouch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-83; 34:24]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A television show may have led to the arrest in Texas of a local child molestor and his wife.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

46-year old Roger Lee Crouch fled the area with his wife and 20-month old son Travis in December.
He was due to be sentenced on child molestation charges.
His case was featured on the T-V show, "America's Most Wanted."
Shortly afterward, authorities arrested the pair in Texas.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11.22.26 - 11.23.36]
[IN Q=There was a whole]
((INV. MICHAEL MEHAFFERY/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT OF EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THIS CASE, NOT THAT IT HADN'T GONE INTO ANY OTHER CASES BUT TO MY KNOWEDGE I WORKED ON THIS CASE AND EVERYBODY WORKED SO HARD.))
[SUPER=01-Inv. Michael Mehaffey/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Office;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=worked so hard.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

The couple is behind bars in Bedford and will appear in court later today.
Meanwhile, officials with the Texas Department of Social Services are trying to find a new home for their son Travis.
(------------)

[8WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE #=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Shifting gears now to weather--
A winter storm warning is in effect for most of the viewing area today and tonight, with sleet and snow changing over to freezing rain.
Look for highs only in the lower 30s.
Rain is likely tonight, but drying out during the overnight period.
Temperatures holding stead or slowly rising through the 30s.
The FIVE day forecast is drier and warmer, with highs in the 40s and the 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=#555; reset] [SUPER=314-Sleet & Snow/Then Freezing Rain/30-34/Rain Likely/Turning Mostly Cloudy/30-34;]